Draft appliance



J. KUCHAR DRAFT APPLIANCE Jan; 7,

Original Filed Sept. 26, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ly J OIE J. KUCHAR DRAFT APPLIANCE zmzmm Original Filed Sept. 26, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 7, 1936.,

J. KUCHAR DRAFT APPLIANCE Patented Jan. 7, 1936 2,027,046

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 DRAFT APPLIANCE .icseph Kuchar, Chicago, Ill, assignor to Athey I'Ifi'nss Wheel (30., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Original application September 26, 1930, Serial No. 484,623. Divided and this application May 11, 1935, Serial No. 20,901

12 Claims. (Cl. 280-333) v This application is a division from my previous vention connected thereto, portions being broken application Serial No. 484,623 filed September 26, away in section to more clearly show other por- 1930, for Draft appliance. tions.

This invention relates to drawbar brackets for Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view vehicles and the manner in which they are taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the 5 mounted, and is more particularly concerned with direction of the arrows. a drawbar bracket of this type that may be ad- Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view through the justed to different heights. mechanism, taken generally on the line 4-4 of An object of my invention is to provide a novel Fig. 2; and drawbar or draft appliance for use in combina- Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the 10 tion with a rigid drawbar that forms a part of portion of the gooseneck drawbar to which my the frame of a heavy vehicle chassis. improved draft appliance is applied, and an end A further object of the present invention is elevational view of my improved draft appliance, to provide a novel drawbar or draft appliance the view being taken generally on the line 5-5 of that may be inverted and connected to the rigid Fig. 2. l5

drawbar forming a part of the frame of a heavier Referring to the drawings (Fig. 1) I have shown vehicle chassis at a plurality of different heights. a dump wagon trailer l0 mounted upon the run- A further object of my invention is to provide ning gear of the self-laying track type in which a new and improved appliance of this type ina pair of wheels 12 roll on an endless chain I4.

0 corporating shock absorbing mechanism yieldable A running gear of this type is disclosed in the longitudinally when the drawing force of a tractor patent to 1. 1-1. Athey, No. 1,435,788, of November or other power traction device is applied thereto 14, 1922. The trailer 10 is provided with the and yieldable vertically to absorb loading and usual type of framework and is also provided road shocks. The longitudinal yielding means at its front end with a rigid gooseneck or archallows the traction device to gain momentum and neck type drawbar it. At its rear end the trailer 25 prevents severe stresses and strains in the drawn is further provided with a bracket l8 adapted vehicle which would otherwise be produced by to engage with a draft appliance 20 connected sudden jerking action of the tractor. The verto the rigid drawbar It of another trailer Ill tically yielding shock absorbing mechanism allows attached behind the first trailer. The first trailfor smoothness of drawbar pull as the various er is connected to a tractor or other power mech- 30 loaded vehicles are drawn by the tractor over a anism through t e medium of a Similar draft pcomparatively rough road. It obviously improves pliance 20 and a clevis 22 which may be a part the riding quality of the drawn vehicle over one of the tractor.

that is rigidly attached to a tractor. The draft appliance 20 is pivotally connected to My invention is particularly applicable to rigid drawbar it upon the pivot bolt 24 which passes drawbars of vehicle chassis such as the gooseneck through a suitable opening 25 in the housing 26 or arch-neck type more or less commonly known of the draft appliance and through suitable openin the art, and my invention further resides in ings 28 in the lower end of the drawbar IS. The

the novel arrangement of parts and the details openings 28 are formed in the forked ends 30 of of construction all of which are described in the the drawbar, which are adapted to straddle the following specification and illustrated in the achousing 26 of the draft appliance 20. Pivot pin companying drawings, in which: 24 is provided with suitable lock nuts 32 at oppo- Figure l is'a side elevational view of a typical site ends to effectively secure the pivot pin in dump wagon provided with a gooseneck or archposition. Housing 26 of the draft appliance is neck type of drawbar bracket and illustrating the further provided with a similar opening 34 at its 45 draft appliance of the present invention as being rearward end through which a second pivot or the attaching means between the front end of yoke pin 36 is positioned. A yoke member 38 the wagon and a tractor at a comparatively low having arms 40 is pivotally secured to the pin 36,

level, and further illustrating my improved draft the arms 40 having suitable openings 42 through 00 appliance at the rear of the wagon as the 0011- which the pin 36 passes. Pin 36 may be secured nection to another wagon, this draft appliance against removal by a pair of cotter pins 44 which being shown at a higher level. extend through the pin at each end. The yoke Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a per 38 which is pivotally connected to the rear end of tion of the gooseneck drawbar shown in Fig. 1, the draft appliance 20 has a hub portion 46. with the improved draft appliance of my in- A bolt i0 is provided, having a shank extending 55 through a suitable bore in hub portion 46 of the yoke 38. comparatively heavy coil spring 52 is arranged on said bolt, being positioned between a thrust washer 54 which rests against the edge 55 of an opening 58 through the lower Wall of drawbar I6 and a suitable thrust or guide member 56 which rests against the head of bolt 48. The hub 46 of yoke 38 and the bolt 48 extend up into the interior of the drawbar I6 through the opening 58 in the lower wall thereof. The drawbar I6 at this point is in the form of a hollow rectangular casting of the desired shape. A suitable wall portion 58 extends downwardly from the upper wall and forms a housing to enclose the guide and thrust member 56 to prevent the same from turning.

The guide or thrust member 56 has a seat for engaging the head 60 of the bolt 48 so the bolt will be held against turning in the wall portion 58 of the drawbar I6. To adjust the compression force of the spring 52, the nut 62 at the lower end of bolt 48 is tightened or loosened as desired, and. to lock the spring 52 under the desired tension a set screw 64 is provided extending downward through a suitably tapped bore 66 in the upper wall 68 of the drawbar I6. A suitable lock nut 10 is provided to lock the set screw 64 in its desired position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a construction has been provided wherein the draft appliance 20 is pivotally secured to the forward end of the drawbar I6 and through the medium of yoke 40 and bolt 48, it is yieldingly secured at its rearward end to the drawbar I6. In this manner, vertical shocks obtained as a load is drawn over a comparatively rough road are absorbed.

Wearing blocks "I2 are provided between the housing 26 and the inner walls of the forked ends 30 of the drawbar. These wearing blocks may be in the form of discs suitably housed in the cavities I4 in the sides of flanges I6 struck up from the housing 26. Suitable set screws 18 provided with lock nuts 80 pass through appropriate tapped holes in the flanges I6 and bear against the wearing blocks I2 to hold them in frictional engaging position with the arms 30. In this manner any possible wear between the housing 26 and the arms 30 is avoided, being taken by the wearing blocks 12 which may readily be replaced when they are worn out.

Means for connecting the draft appliance to the clevis 22 of a tractor will now be described. The forward end of the draft element is provided with the bore 82, through which is snugly fitted a bolt 84 which is adapted to have relative longitudinal movement with respect to the draft element 20. The front end of the bolt 84 is bifurcated, having the two ears 86 adapted to receive therebetween a coupler member 88 which is held in place by a bolt 80. The coupler 88 has an opening 92 therethrough through which is fitted a bolt 94 which secures the clevis 22 in position so that it may transmit force from any power traction appliance to the draw bolt 84.

A cylindrical bore 96 is formed in the front end of bolt 84 and has therein a coil spring 98 which is seated against the bottom of the bore and against a cylindrical block I00 which is forced thereby into contacting engagement with the rear side of the coupler 88 for resisting its free movement, but permitting movement thereof when sufficient force is applied. The purpose of this arrangement is particularly to aid in the coupling of the draft appliance to the tractor or other traction mechanism, in that it will support the coupler 88 in any placed position from which it would otherwise drop by gravity unless yieldingly held by the block I00.

The end of bolt 84 extends longitudinally through the hollow interior of housing 26 and is provided at its rear end with a washer I02 and a nut I04. The nut I04 is securely locked in position on the bolt 84 by a suitable bolt and nut I06. A relatively heavy coil spring I08 is placed upon the bolt 84 between the washer I02 and a washer I I0 adapted to rest against a shoulder I I2 formed in the forward end of housing 26. The coil spring I08 is adapted to yieldingly restrain forward longitudinal movement of the bolt 84 when traction force is applied to the same, thus tending to produce a smooth pulling movement as the trailer is being drawn forward.

Thus far the draft appliance has been illustrated and described with reference to its arrangement for attachment to the clevis of a tractor. However, when it is desired to bring the coupler 88 to a height toconnect, for example, with the bracket I8 at the rear end of another trailer I0, the pivot pin 36 and the pivot bolt 24 are both removed. The draft appliance 20 is inverted, the housing having suitable clearance within the arms 30 of the drawbar I6 and also within the arms 40 of the yoke member 38. The pin 36 and the pivot bolt 24 are replaced with the draft appliance 20 in an inverted position and the coupler 88 will be positioned a substantial distance higher than in its former position.

As can readily be seen, it is a very simple matter to invert the draft appliance 20 to provide a coupler at a different height, the entire operation requiring a very short amount of time.

While I have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of my invention, it will be understood by those familiar with the art that numerous changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and I do not wish to limit myself to the embodiment shown. Rather, what I desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a draft mechanism, an arch-neck drawbar, a draft element having a longitudinal bore pivotally secured to the drawbar on an axis spaced vertically from the axis of the bore and adapted to be invertedly mounted on the drawbar, means yieldingly securing the other end of said draft element to said drawbar, a draw bolt passing through the bore in said draft element, and a coil spring positioned about said bolt and operatively interposed between a portion thereof and said draft element for yieldingly restraining longitudinal movement of said bolt.

2. In a draft mechanism, an arch-neck drawbar, a yoke secured thereto and means for providing a hitch between said drawbar and clevices of different heights comprising a draft element, a coupler thereon, connecting lugs extending upward at one end of said draft element, and a yoke pivot at the opposite end of said draft element, said draft element arranged to be secured to said drawbar and to said yoke either in its normal or in an inverted position.

3. In a draft mechanism, a drawbar, an invertible draft element pivotally secured to said drawbar at one end, a yoke pivotally secured to said draft element at another end, said yoke having a shank extending through an opening in said drawbar, a bolt attached to said yoke, spring means interposed between said bolt and a shoulder of said drawbar, said draft element having a longitudinal bore through a portion thereof forming a guide, a draw bolt passing through the bore in said draft element, and resilient yielding means interposed between said bolt and said draft element for yieldingly restraining longitudinal movement of said bolt.'

4. In a draft mechanism, a drawbar having an arched lower end, an invertible draft element comprising a housing having lugs extending therefrom, a pivot bolt through said lugs securing said draft element to the lower end of said drawbar, a yoke yieldingly secured to said drawbar and pivotally secured to said draft element, and a horizontal draw bolt yieldingly secured in said draft element.

5. A draft mechanism comprising a drawbar having an arched lower end rigidly mounted on a vehicle and projecting therebeyond, a draft element pivotally secured to said arched lower end, a draw bolt yieldingly secured in said draft element, a vertical yoke pivotally secured to said draft element, and resilient means securing said yoke to said drawbar.

6. In a draft mechanism, an arch-neck drawbar, a draft element adapted to be pivotally secured thereto in either a normal or an inverted position, means yieldingly securing one end of said draft element to said drawbar in either a normal or an inverted position, said draft element having a longitudinal bore through a portion thereof forming a guide, a draw bolt passing through the bore in said draft element, and a coil spring positioned about said bolt and operatively interposed between a portion thereof and said draft element for yieldingly restraining longitudinal movement of said bolt.

7. In a draft mechanism, an arch-neck drawbar, a yoke secured thereto, an invertible draft element, a coupler thereon, connecting lugs extending upward at one end of said draft element, a pivot for securing said draft element to said drawbar, and a yoke pivot at the opposite end of said draft element, said draft element arranged to be secured to said drawbar and to said yoke either in its normal or in an inverted position.

8. In a draft mechanism, a drawbar having an arched lower end, a draft element pivotally secured to said drawbar at its lower end, a yoke pivotally secured to said draft element, said yoke having a shank extending through an opening in said drawbar, a bolt attached to said yoke, spring means interposed between said bolt and a shoulder of said drawbar for providing vertical resiliency, said draft element having a longitudinal bore through a portion thereof forming a guide, a draw bolt passing through the bore in said draft element, resilient yielding means interposed between said bolt and said draft element for yieldingly restraining longitudinal 5 movement of said bolt, and wearing plates arranged between the sides of said draft elements and the arched lower end of said drawbar.

9. In a draft mechanism, a drawbar having an arched lower end, an invertible draft element pivotally secured at one end in said arched lower end, vertically positioned means yieldingly securing the other end of said draft element to said drawbar, said draft element having a longitudinal bore through a portion thereof forming a guide, a draw bolt passing through the bore in said draft element, and a coil spring positioned about said bolt and operatively interposed between a portion thereof and said draft element for yieldingly restraining longitudinal movement of said bolt.

10. In a draft mechanism, a drawbar, an invertible draft element pivotally secured to said drawbar at one end, a yoke pivotally secured to said draft element at another end, said yoke having a shank extending through an opening in said drawbar, a bolt slidably mounted in the shank of said yoke, a head on said bolt, spring means interposed between the head on said bolt and a shoulder of said drawbar, said draft ele- 3Q ment having a longitudinal bore through a portion thereof forming a guide, a draw bolt passing through the bore in said draft element, and resilient yielding means interposed between said bolt and said draft element for yieldingly restraining longitudinal movement of said bolt.

11. In a draft mechanism, a drawbar having an arched lower end, an invertible draft element comprising a housing having upright lugs extending therefrom at its front end, a pivot bolt through said lugs securing said draft element to the front lower end of said drawbar, a yoke yieldingly secured to the back end of said drawbar and pivotally secured to said draft element a distance back from the front end thereof, and a longitudinal draw bolt yieldingly secured in said draft element.

12. A draft mechanism comprising a drawbar having an arched lower end rigidly mounted on a vehicle and projecting therebeyond, an invertible draft element pivotally secured to said arched lower end, a draw bolt yieldingly secured in said draft element, a vertical yoke pivotally secured to said draft element, and resilient means securing said yoke to said drawbar.

JOSEPH KUCI-IAR. 

